Council discusses “cash flow problem”

Stuttgart City Council members unanimously approved a grant contract that will include the $230,796 U.S. government funds and approximately $25,644 from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics to make repairs to the apron concrete and drainage improvements.

The City of Stuttgart is four months behind on paying bills. This information came out during Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled Stuttgart City Council meeting. Alderman Jim Craig announced to those present that after a conversation with Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard that he became aware the city was behind approximately two months on paying bills.

Craig received a call from a business owner who had not been paid in four months, which is what called him to bring up the issue during the meeting Tuesday.

“So where are we on the bills, Jane?” Craig asked Jane Jackson, finance director for the City of Stuttgart, who was in the audience.

“Finishing March, working on April now,” Jackson replied at the meeting. She spoke with the Daily Leader Wednesday and said she “misspoke.” Jackson said the city has only two bills from April it is still paying. She said the city is now working to finish May.

Jackson explained most debtors know that the city is having a “cash flow problem” and that some understand.

“Some think that they are more important than others,” Jackson stated, and explained that the city is trying to pay according to dates owed.

Maynard did not add any discussion to the answer and moved on with council member questions or concerns.

Maynard did ask earlier in the meeting to approve her authority to enter into a grant contract for $230,796 to make apron concrete repairs and drainage improvements at the Stuttgart Municipal Airport.

Stuttgart City Council members unanimously approved the contract that will include the $230,796 U.S. government funds and approximately $25,644 from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics.

The council also approved Doris Minter as the commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of the Stuttgart Housing Authority. The board elected Minter after Valla Hancock declined the opportunity to be re-elected. The term will expire March 20, 2018.

The council also approved the lowest bid for a handicapped-accessible sidewalk to be constructed on 22nd Street from Prairie Street to Park Avenue. See Thursday’s edition for more information on the low bid that was accepted and approved unanimously. The money used was approved by Stuttgart voters through the Stuttgart Improvements Bond and will be used not only on the new construction, but with other sidewalk improvements throughout the town.